Crib side drop



Feb 9, 1937. H. w. NEUNHERZ ET AL 2,070,090

CRIB S IDE DROP Filed June 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .firfier/ W/Yeanke 7-1 George WJfn oo? 6 saw-5' rm M Feb. 9, 1937. w NEUNHERZ ET AL 2,070,090

CRIB SIDE DROP Filed June 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 fm M Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNETEE STATES PATENT QFHCE CRIB SIDE DROP Massachusetts Application June 1, 1934,'Serial No. 728,564

2 Claims.

This is an improvement over our co-pending Patent No. 1,961,593, patented June 5, 1934.

In that case the crib side is held up by spring latches which constitute a satisfactory and emcient arrangement but involve the use of a moving part to hold up the crib side, which part in the course of time may become displaced and the support for the crib side unstable and perhaps prevent it from operating under some circumstances.

The principal object of this invention is to do away with the relatively movable latch at this point upon which the crib side is supported and so shape the foot frame, universally employed on this type of crib, as to itself constitute the support, thus making it impossible for Wear and use to render it inoperative.

Another object of the invention is to so shape the foot frame and so locate its pivotal point of suspension that the weight of the crib side will always tend to hold it forward in safe position to prevent the drop of the side of the crib by the swinging of the foot frame inwardly, unless it is moved in that direction intentionally.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side view of a crib constructed in accordance with this invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 on enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an elevation from the rear, as indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2, showing the foot frame;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig: 2 showing the side frame in the act of ascending;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 of a modified form;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the same form, and

Figs. '7 and 8 are corresponding views of a third form of the invention.

A crib of ordinary construction is shown on the first sheet having a pair of vertical guide rods I!) on which the front side H is adapted to move up and down. In Fig. 1 it is shown in its uppermost position when the crib is in use.

The movable front side I! is provided with a pair of brackets i2 fixed thereto and each having a projection l3 formed with a horizontal bottom surface l4 and an inclined top surface l5 terminating in a hook it. Each bracket is shown as composed of a piece of sheet metal with the parts embodying the elements M, 15 and I6 bent from it at right angles and projecting rearwardly in the crib.

The frame ll of the crib is formed of angle irons provided underneath with a pair of inverted U-shaped brackets I8 perforated at opposite sides. Through the perforations in each case extends a pivot pin it, shown in the form of a cotter pin. On these pins is pivoted a pair of vertical plates which constitute the ends of a foot frame. These plates 20 are integrally connected, as by welding, to a bar 2] at the bottom which is bent near each end to form a horizontal bar 22, constituting a rigid and relatively immovable part of the foot frame, for a purpose to be described.

Wound on each cotter pin I9 is a spring 23 having one end engaging the bracket E8, the other end projecting down and extending through a perforation in the plate 20.

Comparing this construction with that of the above mentioned patent, it will be seen that the bar 22 takes the place of the spring latch of the patent and serves as a support for the bracket l2. It will also be seen that the fixed slanting surface l5 of the bracket 12 is used to perform the function of the movable slanting surface at one edge of the pivoted latch 25 of said patent. The foot frame is so shaped and pivoted that its center of gravity, when in freely depending condition, is located between the rod 22 and the vertical plane of the front of the crib. In other words, by changing the construction of the bar 2! of the foot frame and of the bracket iii, the spring pressed latch, with whatever difficulties and expense it may involve, is entirely eliminated. The pivot pins ill on which the frame is swung are located in such a place and the shape of the foot frame comprising the plates 23, the bar 2i, and the bars 22 is such that gravity naturally tends to hold this foot frame in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 with a projection or stop 25 resting against the flange of the angle iron of the crib frame I1.

It will be seen that when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 2, with the side frame I l in its uppermost position closing the crib, the horizontal lower edges Hi of the brackets I2 rest on the bars 22 and tend to force them downward- 1y. Inasmuch as these bars are located back of the pivot pins E9 the weight of the front side if of the crib is exerted to push these bars outwardly toward the front side and hold the front frame forward. The weight of the front side can never tend to force the foot frame backwardly. Therefore, it is necessary to exert a little force on the foot frame, push it back and allow the front frame to drop. This condition is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,

After the side frame is dropped, its movement upward by the usual method results in the slanting surface I 5 forcing the integral rods 22 of the foot frame, and the foot frame, back as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 4 to allow the frame to be moved up without the necessity of operating any latch or even the necessity of having a relatively movable latch or other member present. In other words the benefit of the latch action is secured without any latch other than the movable foot frame itself.

This very greatly simplifies the construction, reduces the expense and also eliminates the probability of the front frame and foot frame mechanism failing to work after long and hard usage.

The same principles are secured by the constructions shown on the second sheet of drawings. Instead of having end plates 20, which are welded on the ends of the rods 22, as in the first four figures, the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is such that the whole foot frame can be made of a single piece of metal in rod form. Here the parts 2| and 22 are substantially the same as in Fig. 3 but the integral connecting part of the rod at 3| is curved to bring the center of gravity of the foot frame in about the same position as it is in Fig. 2. Also the end of the rod 22 is bent forwardly at 32 so that the upright part 33 of this rod can be brought up to its pivot point on the pin 19 in such a way that normally it will hang down in the same position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When the bracket 34 on the sliding front frame II with its slanting cam 35 engages'the bar 22 on. the way up the parts will come to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 and later to the dotted line position shown therein. This is the same operation as described in connection with the first sheet of drawings. Furthermore, in its normally depending position the foot frame in this case will hang down far enough so that the rods 22 will come under the horizontal portion, of the brackets 34 and the weight of the side frame will tend to hold the foot frame in the most forward position just as in the other case.

In the form shown in Figs. '7 and 8, a straight rod 31 is shown clear across the foot frame and to its end are secured vertical plates 38 by welding or the like. Each plate 38 is provided with a projecting integral slanting ear 39. In this case each bracket 4!] is provided with a horizontal projection 4 I.

In the elevated position of the front frame H the front part 4| of this bracket is supported by the top of the ear 39 and the way of mounting r and shaping the foot frame is the equivalent of those shown in the other figures, so it will be held there by the weight of the front frame against swinging. The foot frame is moved back,

as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, to release the front frame. When it is raised the slanting ear 39 will be forced backwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 by the extreme rear edge of the projection M on the bracket ll).

In each of these cases, a projection, as a hook l6 in Fig. 4, the end of the slanting cam in Fig. 5, and an upright 2-2 integral with the bracket ill in Fig. 7 engages back of the vertical web of the angle iron along the side of the bed frame when the front frame. I l is in its most elevated position and prevents the pushing of the front frame away from the bed frame, which would allow the front frame to drop accidentally from the pressure within the crib.

In each case gravity holds the foot frame in proper position to support the side frame when the foot frame is up. The spring 23 is not for the purpose of holding the foot frame in this position and the crib can be made without this spring and still will work efficiently. This spring merely holds the foot frame yieldingly in its normal supporting position so that it will not swing back and forth freely and make a noise.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth. in the claims, but what we claim is:

l. The combination with a crib frame, a vertically movable front frame supported thereby, and supporting projections extending rearwardly from the bottom of the front frame, of pivot supports on the front of the crib frame, plates pivoted to depend from said pivot supports, a single bar secured at both ends to said plates located at the rear of the pivots for the plates, the supporting projections resting on said bar and a foot trip carried by said bar and extending forward, whereby the weight of the front frame tends to swing said foot trip outwardly.

2. The combination with a crib frame, a vertically movable front frame supported thereby, and supporting projections extending rearwardly from the bottom of the front frame, of pivot supports on the front of the crib frame, plates pivoted to depend from said pivot supports. and a single bar secured at both ends of said plates and having a depressed portion between, but spaced from, said ends to constitute a convenient treadle for swinging said plates, the ends of said bar being located under said projections to support them, the shape of the swinging portion and the location of its center of gravity being such that the weight of the front frame will hold said depressed portion forward.

HERBERT W. NEUNHERZ. GEORGE W. ATWOOD. 

